Well-written, loaded with information, and with a rich assortment of illustrations, each Discoveries "RM" volume is a look at one facet of art, archaeology, music, history, philosophy, popular culture, science, or nature. These innovatively designed, affordably priced, compact paperbacks bring ideas to life and amplify our understanding of civilization in a new way.Alexandria, the Mediterranean's largest city, has an illustrious history dating from its founding in 332 BC by Alexander the Great. The city has absorbed an astonishing variety of cultural influences, from Roman and early Christian to Byzantine and Muslim experiencing massive cycles of renewal and near-abandonment in the process. This comprehensive overview focuses on the city's celebrated monuments -- such as the royal libraries and the Alexandria lighthouse -- and archaeological artifacts of its cultural splendor, as well as its continuing role as a dynamic marketplace where Occident and Orient meet.